City moves forward with transportation projects

Local officials are throwing their support behind an effort to improve mass transportation for local seniors.This week the Great Bend City Council approved support for the current effort by the Commission on Aging to replace two mini busses.City Administrator Howard Partington told the council that the Commission currently is using three vans and a mini bus with high miles and the agency is working with the Kansas Department of Transportation on a program through which the state would provide the bulk of an 80/20 split grant for vehicle replacement.The city had already included $11,000 in the 2012 budget for such a project and it could also have support in the next budget year, the council members suggested.The county approved the letter of support that will allow the Commission on Aging to move ahead with the grant application.In other, unrelated, transportation issues, it was reported to the council that work continues on the road that will lead into the sports complex, just off south McKinley.“Concrete Services continues grading and preparing to pour concrete for the new entrance road to the Great Bend Sports Complex,” Partington reported. “The second pour between the handicapped parking and the open parking area to the east of the new ball fields was completed on Dec. 12. Work is on-going.”Partington also reported that L&M Contractors completed the replacement of deteriorated pavement on 10th Street at the east entrance to the city.He said the pavement work was completed. It was added that barricade were being removed this week to ease the traffic strain in that area.